So You Got Your First Job? Here's 20 Steps on What to do Next

1. Pick a role model and copy them.

   -They're the best person at their job.
   -Watch how they work, what they say, and learn how they got to that position.

2. Dress the part.

   -Your experience with work clothes is probably lacking.
   -Ironed shirts and pants that are the right length go a long way.
   -I choose to wear socks that stand out to show my personality.

(AND Bush Senior started it)

3. Arrive 30 minutes before your mentor or boss.

    -Use this time to figure out what you will do that day, that way you are always prepared the first time you see them.

    -Side not: Never talk about your hours. When you arrive or leave work. It’s not about the hours you put in, but the work you put out. Work productivity.

4. When you're given a deadline, give the final product to them a day in advance.

    -They will catch things you need to fix. Adjust yourself to have them corrected by the actual due date.

5. You graduated cum laude in college? That’s just a piece of paper hanging on your wall now.

    -Just because you remember something from class last semester doesn't mean you know all the moving parts. Watch how you talk about things.

6. Go to your company events.

    -Show commitment not just to your job, but to the company.

7. Never turn down an lunch invite.

8. 20 minutes before a meeting go over anything someone might ask you about.

    -It sucks not knowing the answer.

9. Remember, your mentor has a job AND you.

    -Be courteous when you need help. He has deadlines too.

    -Always say thank you.

10. Organization for a job is leagues above your college workload. Find a way to stay organized.

    -I keep a word document that has the project name, my notes entailing what I need to do, and the status of the project (with red font).

11. Tap different resources.

    -It doesn’t hurt to get a second opinion.

    -Plus you get to talk to co-workers that have the same job as you.

12. Email yourself at the end of the work day for what you need to do the next day.

    -Especially Fridays

    -You will forget.

13. Say hello to everyone!

    -Make it a point to create relationships.

14. Inquire about your co-worker's work.

    -Try to understand more than what your specific job role is.

15. Subscribe via email to your company's Investor Relations page.

    -It's key to stay in the loop of your company's operations.

          -Read your company's quarterly filed SEC 10-Q.

          -Read your company's annually filed SEC 10-K.

16. Sometimes meetings will be over your head. It's easy to get sleepy.

    -Lift your legs off the ground, it helps.

(Or this)

17. Drop the teenage lingo.

    -The project in your presentation was not a "cool" experience.

    -Stay off your phone and company computers are for company business.

18. Yes-sir / Yes-mam

    -Respect goes a long way.

19. Stay up to date on sports, weather, news, and industry information.

    -It's 80% of the conversations.

20. You can't smile enough.

And just for kicks watch the movie Office Space. The parallels are hilarious.